Chocolate

As I lay in bed last night and could not sleep, I got to thinking about chocolate!!  I think I was hoping if I thought about chocolate before falling asleep, I would then have great dreams of working at a chocolate factory or living in a land flowing with chocolate!

Instead I decided that I needed to post more about chocolate, since my blog title obviously endears me to chocolate.  Then I found this chocolate carnival and knew I needed to link up and give it a try!!

So I thought I would post 10 things I love about chocolate!

You don’t NEED much to satisfy that craving, yet it is so easy to indulge in more!

It’s so quick and easy to grab just a bite here and there of chocolate

I live in a town with a chocolate factory.  I can often be found sitting at my daughter’s soccer games catching a glorious whiff of chocolate!!!

As a child I remember my mom keeping a stash of Nestle Chocolate Chips in a kitchen cupboard, and somehow she never got to making the chocolate chip cookies but the bag was often empty.  I now understand why that happened and have determined my affinity for chocolate must be genetic! 

This Texas Sheet Cake recipe has been a favorite of mine since I was a child….more proof that my love for chocolate is genetic.

Here is a perfect example of smart, wise people and people who are leaders that eat chocolate-

The French Leader Napoleon insisted that wine, from the Burgundy vineyard called Chambertin, as well as chocolate be available during military campaigns. Due to its precious nature, the distribution of chocolate was limited to himself and his senior military advisors.

Chocolate comes in such great NUTRITIOUS varieties how can you not love it, chocolate covered raisins, chocolate covered strawberries, dark chocolate is just full of antioxidants…….veggies and chocolate are all good for you!

Chocolate Chip pancakes and sausage can make a quick easy dinner!

Americans eat an average of twenty two (22) pounds of candy each year, or approximately 2.8 BILLION pounds annually, split almost equally between candy and chocolate. That is far less than most Europeans consume. – Therefore it’s very important to keep eating chocolate to support the American economy during tough times

Jesus and Dark Chocolate….how can you go wrong with that combination.

For more chocolate posts and recipes visit, Stop and Smell the Chocolates!

Happy Chocolate Eating!

 

Not Me Monday

Oh what fun these Not Me posts are!  Click on the button above for more Not Me posts.

It was Not my son who was diagnosed with the flu on Thurs. but  was then outside with out a shirt on and wearing shorts on Friday afternoon working on his fort!!!   It is Not me who thinks Tamiflu must be a miracle drug.

It was Not me who walked out on the deck Sat. morning to be greeted by 65 degree weather and raised my hands in the air and shouted hallelujah, no I would not do something so silly!

It was not me who took great pride and found such joy and peace in  completing 6 loads on laundry on Monday.  It was not me who was amazed at the feeling of relief to finish so much laundry.

It was not me who had a crazy Thurs. morning, and did not have time to make coffee at home.  So I did not stop at our local Dunkin Donuts, and could not understand their sale sign of 2 donuts + coffee=.99 cent coffee.  It was not me who thought it would cost $2, and it was not me who was a dollar short when I went to pay.  But it was not the clerk who was kind enough to say to this frazzled mom, “don’t worry about the extra dollar!”  So it was not me that left Dunkin Donuts with a smile on my face, a nice cup of coffee and 2 donuts that I DID NOT quickly consume with in seconds!!!  I had a serious Homer Simpsom moment!

 

Aloha Friday

I had so much fun reading all the responses to my last Aloha Friday when I asked about your ideas for a quick, easy meal. (Click here to read the post and see all the great suggestions in the comments.)

I decided to milk my good fortune a little farther and ask for your help again……..

When I say quick,easy baked sale item or dessert, what comes to your mind?

For me it’s probably brownies from a boxed mix with ice cream.  I will often serve that when  I am in a hurry, or when we are having friends over and I don’t have time for something real fancy.  It’s really hard to go wrong with anything chocolate!

For more fun questions click on the button above.

 

Not Me Monday

For more Not Me Fun click here

It was Not Me that has been listening to the Journey songs that my 14 year old son downloaded.   It’s not my son that likes the same music as his mom!!

It was Not Me that was so excited to get out my best paper plates and paper cups and serve the subs we ordered for dinner one night last week.  Can you all say “EASY dinner, always makes the mom happy!”

It was certainly Not Me that waited to the last minute on Wed. to plan a lesson for my Girls Alive class I teach, and ended up “recycling” a lesson I taught from Jr. High Sunday School 2 weeks earlier.

It is not me who secretly wants to get better at playing Rock Band.

It was Not Me that despite being so tired one night last week, made a batch of fresh, homemade chocolate chip cookies, simply because I craved cookie dough.

It is certainly Not Me that needs to find out why my jeans feel so tight lately!

Oh, and it was not me that was so hungry at the grocery store last Friday after school that I went back to the sample of this delicious, creamy, Cabot cheddar cheese 4 times!  Good thing my kids were not with me.

And it was Not Me that in my haste and rush to get to school last week, suggested to my son that he eat some Laffy Taffy and Gummies for breakfast.  I certainly did not tell him that the sugar would energize him at school that day.  Oh that would be bad parenting, and I would not do that….especially since I am a teacher!

Happy Monday!

 

Aloha Friday

I love this carnival/meme….it’s easy and it’s fun. You simply ask a question……

When I say quick, easy dinner, what is the first thing that comes to your mind?

All suggestions, recipes, ideas are welcome, and heck I will even give you my address if you want to send me a free sample!  And if you can have the dinner arrive at my house right at dinner time, I will send you flowers and chocolate!

LOL!

For more fun questions click on the button above.

 

Fab Five and My day on Wednesday

..Instead of talking about the whole week I going to tell you about one day this week…..

#1 – It started out great, we had a freak and very rare snow squall that dropped 8 inches of snow in about 4 hours over a small 8 mile wide path.  Meaning, a town a mere 2 miles from my house just got a dusting of snow and we had 8 inches!!!!!  We love snow at our house and we are all pumped to go out and enjoy the snow.

I got up and made yummy, homemade oatmeal and enjoyed a good cup of coffee!

#2 Shortly after that I went out to enjoy the snow, it was beautiful!  It was one those gorgeous snows that sticks to the trees.  I really enjoyed walking around the woods behind our house taking these pictures.

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#3 SportTman came out while I was out taking pictures and started snowboarding down the hill in our woods.  I of course took pictures of him.

#4- But then this happened……..

SportTman breaking his wrist!

#5- Yep SportTman broke his wrist when he landed when “getting some nice air” over his homemade ramp. Can you believe I was videotaping him at the time.   The good news is, he just finished basketball this week, and spring training for baseball doesn’t start until after the cast is off.  He has some indoor baseball practices this month, but I am sure they will find something for him to do.

It is also good news that he broke his left wrist since he is right handed.  So he went to school late today, since he got a lovely blue cast that his entire basketball team has already signed. And to top off our “cast day” together, we enjoyed lunch  at good ole Kentucky Fried Chicken.  What a week!

For more Fab Five fun visit Susanne, she always does a nice Fab Fave!

 

Not-Me Monday

I have seen this meme at He & Me + 3 several times before, it looked fun, so I decided to join in this Monday.

For more Not Me fun visit MCKMama.

It was NOT ME that insisted my son wear his dirty, unwashed basketball uniform to his game on Tues.  It was NOT ME that forgot to wash it.

It was NOT ME that signed up to bring 1 lb. of deli ham for a needy family at church and forgot to bring it on Sunday.

It was NOT ME a responsible, adult and teacher who was so excited to have a snow day last Wed. that I had trouble going back to sleep after the 5:07am call.

It was NOT ME that took my special ed class for a walk in the snow on Friday, and it was certainly NOT ME that got so excited to show the students the snow and ice in the local pool.  And let me tell you it was NOT ME that then promptly slipped and fell on the ice right on my butt in front of all my students!!  But it was me who enjoyed a good laugh after the fall!

It was NOT MY daughter who when mom was in a frenzy last week before school kindly packed my lunch and even put a sweet note in it.

It was not me that almost sent an email that said “thanks for keeping me in the poop” instead of “thanks for keeping me in the loop”  Thank goodness I caught it!!!!!

 

A Simple Women’s Daybook

My blogging friend Faith often participates in this meme and I have been wanting to participate for awhile so today, I am jumping in and giving it a try…….

FOR TODAY

Outside my Window..Grey sky, a light dusting of snow on the ground and trees.

I am thinking...plans for the day, including a lunch date at a local chinese restaurant with the Inventor.

I am thankful for..for the day off of school today.
From the kitchen...The Inventor is making pancakes, scrambled eggs, hash browns and  I am making coffee and bacon
I am creating...new chores list for the kids.

I am going…to lunch with the Inventor and shopping with SportTman, and out for a good power walk this morning
I am wearing…comfy fleece jammies and slippers
I am reading...a book by Tony Dungy – “A Quiet Strength”

I am hoping…for a relaxing day, and hope that I can get lots of laundry done

I am hearing…bacon sizzling and Drums is shaving….finally!  (He grew a scruff beard like the Philadelphia Eagles coach Andy Reid.  He and a bunch of teachers at school said they weren’t shaving until the Eagles lose.  They finally lost last night,  I’m bummed they lost, but I’m happy the scruff will be gone!!)
Around the house…tidying up the basement after a football watching party last night.
One of my favorite things..sleeping in this morning and not rushing out the door.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week….SportTman’s basketball games, Girls Alive Wed. night, bloodwork for my physical on Wed., The Inventor’s soccer game.

A picture thought I’m sharing

SportTman with his Grammy and Grandpa after a basketball game

For more Simple thoughts visit Peggy.

 

Aloha Friday

With this cold we are experiencing on the east coast, just the word Aloha sounds so inviting! 

So it’s VERY cold around many parts of the nation………do you hate the cold, tolerate it, like it or even possibly love it?

I actually like it, I love the outdoors, so I like the challenge of dressing the right way so I can get outdoors and embrace the day.  The other night I went for a power walk when it was 15 out.  I was all layered up, and then put a coat on, hat, scarf and gloves.  By the end of the walk, I actually took my hat off.   But I have a feeling most of you will not like the cold.

But let me assure you, homemade soup, cozy slippers, a warm fleece blanket and a good book are also appealing.

So enjoy the cold or enjoy a good book this weekend!

Here is a picture of me out enjoying the cold!

 

Friday Fave Five

I like this carnival over at Susanne‘s. I get to think about my five favorite things this past week….and what a busy week, thus my lack of blog posts.

But I am thinking things should start to slow down next week.  So in anticipation of a slower week, here are several relaxing moments I enjoyed this week.

#1 – I enjoyed a couple of good cups (well actually it was a styrofoam cup) of tea this week.  I am not a big tea drinker, but I do savor a nice flavored tea in the fall and winter.

#2 – I put on a relaxing instrumental Christmas CD, cuddled under a warm blanket to read a book, and promptly fell asleep on the couch!

#3 – OK this qualifies as relaxing since it helped me out.  I confess that I stopped at McD’s for dinner the other night.  But let me give you the full story.  I was coming home late from several different appointments, I was tired, and knew I would be rushed to get dinner on the table.  So I stopped at our local McD’s and bought four .99 cent double cheeseburgers for a grand total of $4.24.  I brought them home, added chips, carrots and apples and we had a nice dinner together.  And I was pleased with the ease of dinner that night, and I didn’t spend a ton of money.

#4 – We had a nice visit with my dad, he came over and had dinner with us on Monday.  That was another easy meal.  I had bought ham steaks on sale, I had this wonderful Boars Head brown sugar ham glaze that I spread on the ham steaks. Baked the ham for a half hour, and you have the start of a wonderful dinner!

#5 -I had a great time in my classroom last Friday carving pumpkins with the students.  The each loved having a chance to plunge into that pumpkin with those cool pumpkin cutters.

 

Question?

I really enjoyed reading all the responses from the last time I asked a question at the Island Life- Aloha Friday carnival.  It’s so simple, just ask a question, and see what others have to say………………….. And after staying up  to watch the Phillies win the World Series( more to come on this)  and ALL the games before that, I am tired this week and I am looking for something simple!

So I’m wondering,

What is in your iPod( or whatever kind of music device you have)?  What music are you listening to these days????

I just download several new songs last night that I am loving.  One is a new one from Micheal W. Smith, “A New Hallelujah” also “Mighty to Save” from Hillsong, “The Hand that Holds the World, by Starfield, and “Starbucks Takes All My Money by KJ-52 ( this song is hilarious!!) and “Viva la Vida” by Coldplay.  I know it’s diverse!    But that is what I have been listening to lately.  What about you, what song are you just loving lately?

 

Friday Fave Five

What a week, it’s hard to believe it’s Friday already. I saw this Friday Fave Five over at Susanne‘s awhile ago and have been wanting to jump in on it. What a wonderful idea to reflect upon the past week, and ponder several of my favorites of the week.

5 – I am enjoying the fall weather! I really love to work out in the great outdoors, and I got 2 good workouts in this week. It felt good.

4 – I started teaching the 5th and 6th grade Girls Alive class I teach on Wed. nights this week. Since this was the first week, I thought we would have fun, and let the girls enjoy getting to know each other, and playing silly games. I brought along several rolls of foil ( I bought them real cheap at discount store!), and broke the girls into 3 groups. The girls then created “clothing”, “hats”, “shoes” etc. out of the foil. Imagine a foil fashion show. It was so funny, and we all had a great time. I really looked good in my stylin foil earrings!   I wish I had pictures to share.

3- My friend gave me a really pretty fall pumpkin candle. It has this nice comfy, cozy fall smell. I really appreciate her giving it to me to say thanks for teaching her daughter.

2 – I finally got to wear socks to school this week. It felt nice to have cozy socks on my weary feet!

1- I love these wonderful Dark Chocolate Turtles that I bought at the same discount store where I got the foil from. Oh my were ( key point WERE…..I ate them ALL) they scrumptious and they were only $1.79!